Candide by Voltaire
“Really funny but also has cutting satire. There are quite a few French and philosophy in-jokes though.”
Dominic McKinnon-Green, Vision Nightlife Editor
Sense of an Ending – Julian Barnes
“It’s short, interesting and gets you thinking. A perfect read to squeeze into a busy university life!”
Helena Kaznowska, 3rd Year History of Art & English student
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
“The dystopian novel at its best. It is thought provoking, brilliantly written and a world away from most fiction.”
Morenike Adebayo,Vision Books Editor
Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen J Dubner
“For all those economics students out there who are depressed about the amount of maths thrown into their degree, Freakonomics looks at every day life from a social economic perspective… It may make you think differently about seemingly normal everyday life.”
Chris West, YUSU Student Activities Officer
Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
“As has been the case with many other people, this book has changed the way I see the world. It is a tour de force of a psychological writing, with a seasoning of behavioural economics, and it has revolutionised the way we understand topics as diverse as gambling to tennis and speed dating to divorce. Some of these may indeed lie in our path after we graduate, so having a flick through these pages would surely be a wise move.”
Jack Bradshaw, Vision Deputy Editor
A Little History of the World by E.H. Gombrich
“Ostensibly a children’s book about the history of the world (unsurprisingly) but with a humour, generosity of spirit and belief in humanity that many more ‘sophisticated’ history books would do well to take note of. Informative, enlightening, moving – I can’t praise it enough.”
Jess Petheram, 3rd Year Outdoor Society Chair
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
“A very important but also funny look at bad medical practice. It seems niche, but is also recommended in teaching scepticism when reading churnalism – even in broadsheets.”
Joanna Barrow, Vision Scene Editor
A Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
“It’s the perfect way to cling desperately onto your childhood and hide away from the fact that you’re supposed to be writing essays or applying for graduate jobs. Short enough that even the student with the shortest attention span can make it to the end.”
Alex Finnis, Vision Editor
Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
“It’s quite a thought provoking and touching story which will make an connection with any reader. Telling of a young man who, since becoming an adult in the ‘real’ world, loses sense of the special things in life, its pages can sometimes seem to mirror you as a reader. It will make you reassess priorities you might initially feel comfortable with. I borrowed it from my dad’s girlfriend when I was immensely bored on the-off chance it’d be decent, and couldn’t put it down..”
Kallum Taylor, YUSU President
Story by Robert Mckee
“It’s a really interesting book that lets people know the fundamental principles in all methods of storytelling, with a particular focus on film and television.”
Jack Morrow, 3rd Year Film student